Joy gave way to grief and anger yesterday when a West Virginia coal town learned that 12 of 13 miners trapped in a mine explosion had died, three hours after friends and family were mistakenly told that all but one had survived.
One man survived after being trapped since Monday's blast at the Sago mine in central West Virginia and was in hospital in critical condition. Randal McCloy (27) was being treated for a kidney dysfunction but was described by doctors as conscious and relatively stable.
The way the tragic news of the deaths of the dozen miners was conveyed angered many family members who had stood vigil at a nearby church.
"I feel that we were lied to all along," said Anne Meredith, whose father died in the incident, adding that she planned to sue the mine owner, International Coal Group Inc (ICG).
News of the 12 deaths came hours after church bells pealed and friends and family of the miners celebrated and sang hymns when word spread that 12 miners had survived.
West Virginia's governor said there were indications within 20 minutes that the initial report of a dozen survivors was wrong. Friends and family were not told for about three hours.
"It hit people's hearts so hard," John Casto, a friend of the miners, said on CNN. "One guy said what in the hell has God done for us, but just a few minutes before that we was praising God, because they believed that they was alive."
Ben Hatfield, president of ICG, blamed the earlier report on a miscommunication. He said the company had then waited until it could determine which of the miners were dead or alive to tell the families. ICG had called an early news conference, but it had yet to materialise by mid-afternoon.
Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, said the US mine safety and health administration had confirmed to his office the miners had been saved.
President George Bush offered his condolences and thanked rescue workers and West Virginia governor Joe Manchin for their efforts, but he made no mention of the miscommunication.
"Today, our nation mourns those who lost their lives in the mining accident in West Virginia," he told reporters at the Pentagon.
Several newspapers splashed headlines such as "Miracle in the Mine" on their front pages, which went to press before the truth emerged. "Alive! Miners beat odds" was USA Today's headline with a picture of two smiling family members.
Rescuers had located the 12 on Tuesday night, trapped about 4,000 metres (13,000ft) inside the mine since 6.30am on Monday.
The sole survivor, Randal McCloy, was taken to a nearby hospital. Dr Lawrence Roberts at West Virginia University Hospital told a news conference that Mr McCloy's collapsed lung had re-expanded and that he had communicated with his wife through facial expressions and squeezing hands.
Dr Roberts said lying down for a long period and suffering from dehydration had affected his kidneys and that he would be treated for what they hoped was a temporary condition.
Terry Helms, found dead near the site of the explosion, was the first of the missing miners to be discovered. The later discovery of an empty transport car farther away fuelled hopes that the 12 other men had escaped to an area free of toxic gases.
The sadness and fury that came after news of the 12 deaths contrasted with earlier jubilation after a man burst into nearby Sago Baptist church where family members were holding vigil, shouting, "It's a miracle, it's a miracle!" and saying the 12 men had been found alive.
Hope for the men had been tempered with caution because early tests found lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Each man carried only about one hour's worth of clean air and there had been no communication with them.
Mr Manchin said it appeared the error stemmed from mobile phone conversations being overheard. He denied that he or his staff had ever confirmed the report and said he had begun receiving information that it was inaccurate 20 minutes after the announcement.
Since October, the mine safety and health administration has issued 50 citations to the Sago mine, some as recently as December 21st, including citations for accumulation of combustible materials such as coal dust and loose coal. - (Reuters)